Women's T20 World Cup: Mandhana brushes aside NRR concerns ahead of Sri Lanka clash

Senior Indian batter Smriti Mandhana has brushed aside concerns over the team’s net run rate (NRR) ahead of what promises to be a dramatic finish in Group A of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. India’s campaign in the ongoing ICC tournament has been a rollercoaster so far.

Despite a crucial win against Pakistan in their previous match, India still have a negative NRR due to a heavy defeat against New Zealand in their opening game. With four out of the five teams in Group A currently tied on two points, the group is poised for an intense finale, where every match could significantly alter the standings.

India registered a hard-fought but slow win over Pakistan, as they took 18.5 overs to chase down a modest target of 106, failing to convert their negative NRR into positive. However, Mandhana downplayed the importance of focusing too heavily on the NRR situation as India looks ahead to the critical clash against Sri Lanka and their next match against powerhouse Australia.

“It [NRR] was playing in our minds last match against Pakistan,” Mandhana admitted during a pre-match press conference. “But the conditions here in UAE are quite different, and scoring quickly isn’t as easy as it may seem.”

Mandhana emphasized that the team’s primary focus is on winning matches rather than getting bogged down by the NRR scenario. “It’s always a balance between doing what’s best for the team and what we can do in terms of NRR. I started off fine in the last game but then consumed too many dot balls, which was frustrating,” she added.

“We can’t go into a match thinking we’re just going to attack and cruise. The conditions and outfield are tough. Winning is our first priority, not thinking too much about NRR in these situations. The group is tricky, but it’s still early in the tournament. We are taking it one day at a time.”

India will be relieved by the news that captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who suffered a neck injury during the Pakistan match, is fit and ready to lead the team against Sri Lanka. However, there remain concerns around Pooja Vastrakar, who missed the Pakistan match due to injury. A final decision on her availability will be made on the morning of the Sri Lanka match.

India’s campaign has also seen some tinkering with the batting order. Kaur batted at No.3 against New Zealand, while Jemimah Rodrigues filled that slot in the Pakistan game. Mandhana clarified that these changes were based on match conditions.

“The wicket and ground conditions were different from what we expected,” Mandhana said. “The No.3 role will depend on who we’re playing and what the match situation demands.”

India’s clash with Sri Lanka now carries significant weight as all eyes remain on this highly competitive group. With only two teams progressing to the semi-finals, every run and every match could prove decisive in the coming days.